The larger the python the larger prey is needed. Large pythons are capable of eating animals such as pigs and deer. When the prey has been asphyxiated it is swallowed in full. It takes the python from one to several days to digest a prey.

Even though most pythons have fairly large teeth, they only use them to hold onto something. The teeth of python snakes angle backward to keep hold on prey during constriction. Most prey are swallowed head first. This is also why humans are difficult prey. Our broad shoulders prevent us from being swallowed.